Ernest Kofi Davis, Ghana's Chief Government Nominee on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has been elected Vice-Chairman for a one-year term. He takes over from Liberia's Amos Armah Fully, whose tenure ended at the close of WAEC's 74th annual council meeting. The meeting was held in Ghana and officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama, represented by Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. In a statement, Damianus Ojijeog, Head of Public Affairs for WAEC in Ghana, confirmed the election outcome.
President Mahama, in a keynote address, praised WAEC as a model of successful regional cooperation in Africa. He acknowledged the council's role in maintaining educational standards across member states for over 70 years. However, he warned that rising examination malpractice and certificate forgery threaten WAEC's credibility. He urged stakeholders to uphold truth, honesty, and integrity in safeguarding the examination process. Ghana's Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Clement Apaak, emphasized the role of exams in human capital and economic development. He announced Ghana's return to the international version of the WASSCE starting in 2026.
Three Ghanaian students received the WAEC International Excellence Award for top performance in the 2025 WASSCE: Huda Suglo Suleman (overall winner), Paula Adzo Elinam Suwo (second), and Matthea Aba Andoh (third). Suleman also won the Augustus Bandele Oyediran award as Best Candidate in West Africa. William Afiakwa Asomaning received the Distinguished Friend of Council award. The 75th annual meeting will be hosted by Nigeria in March 2027.
The election of Ernest Kofi Davis as WAEC Vice-Chairman coincides with Nigeria set to host the council's 75th meeting in 2027. Given President Mahama's public warning about exam malpractice, the upcoming Nigerian-hosted meeting may face pressure to deliver concrete actions, not just statements. With Ghana reinstating participation in the international WASSCE, the regional spotlight on assessment integrity will only intensify. Nigeria's own record on exam credibility will be under quiet scrutiny as that date approaches.
